Steam-trap.



G M. LEAR. STEAM TRAP.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 19 1913.

. Q W w q Q 3 W E O R g Q Q o w R N N E 3 Q N 6 v N N F R w a miyezlfjlmz' Witnesses f Inventor Attorneys Patented June 2, 1914.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE MOORE LEAR, OF NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA.

STEAlVLTItAP.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, GEORGE M. LEAR, a citizen of the United States, residing at New Orleans, in the parish of Orleans and Eitate of Louisiana, have invented a new and useful Steam-'lrap, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention appertains to steam traps, and aims to provide a novel and improved apparatus of that character.

It is the object of the present invention to provide a device of the nature indicated which shall be simple in construction, the same being devoid of complex or intricate parts, and the construction being such as to render the trap operable under various steam pressures.

It is also the object of the present invention to improve generally the construction and utility of the devices of the character to which the present invention relates.

With the foregoing general objects out lined and with other objects in view, which will be apparent as the nature of the invention is better understood, the present invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of con struction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in. the precise embodiment of the invention can be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

The invention has been illustrated in its preferred embodiment in the accompanying drawing, wherein similar parts have been designated by corresponding reference numerals, and wherein Figure 1 is a side elevation of one form of i the trap, partly shown in section. Fig. 2 is a similar view of a variation or modification.

In carrying out the invention, reference being had in detail to Fig. 1, there is provided a cylindrical casing 1 having the conveXed heads or ends 2 and 3 bolted or otherwise attached thereto.

Disposed within the casing 1, is a cylindrical hollow float t having convened ends or heads, and preferably constructed of suitable sheet metal or other stock. The Heat 4 is of a diameter slightly less than the diameter of the casing 1, and is of a length somewhat shorter than that of the casing, the float being designed to reciprocate vertically within the casing. It is to be under- Specification of Letters Patent.

Application fi1ec1 June 19, 1913.

1 points along its length.

Patented June 2, 1914.

Serial No. 774,652.

stood that the casing 1 may he stood on end in any suitable manner, such as by means of legs attached to the bottom or lower end The float may be internally braced so as to withstand external pressure, and to this end, a plurality of hoops 5 may be secured within the casing 4 at intervals or spaced The ends or heads of the float t may be braced by radial ribs (5 secured to their inner faces, while an. axial stay rod 7 may be terminally secured to the ends of the float t to brace them against buckling inwardly. These and other means for bracing the float may be our ployed, as will. be apparent.

The float is guided for vertical and rotary movements within the casing 1, such as by means of a plurality of vertical guides 8 bolted or otherwise secured on the casino; 1. The guides 8 are preferably disposed in two annular series, one adjoining the lower end, and the other adjoining the upper end, and each of the guides is preferably in the form of a short length of angle iron having one flange bolted or secured to the casing and having the other flange projecting inwardly and running longitudinally. The float stands loosely between the guides 8, and has a pair oil hoops or ribs 9 secured eXteriorly thereto or embracing the same adj aeent its ends. The respective ribs 9 are disposed adjoining the two series of guides 8, the ribs being spaced slightly from the edges of the guides go that the float may stand loosely within the guides. Thus, the guides will constrain the float to move vertically, although the float may rotate, or may oscillate 1 or -vibrate.

An apertured plate 10 is bolted or otherwise secured to the inner face of the bottom or lower head 3 of the casing, and is pro vided with the inwardly facing concaved valve seat, 11, the bottom 3 being provided with an aperture or opei'iing registering with the aperture of the plate 10. A he1nis pherical or convened valve 12 is welded, brazed or otherwise secured to the bottom or lower end of the float 4; and cotiperatcs with the valve seat 11 to close the discharge outlet through'the plate 10 and bottom 3 when the float is lowered. The discharge pipe for the condensathm or waste water has been designated by the mono al 13, the same being threaded or otherwise engaged within the openings in the bottom 3 and plate 10. The discharge pipe 13 may be extended to any suitable point so as to properly discharge the water, as will be evident.

A cruciform or four-way coupling 14 has one arm or branch thereof attached to the upper end or top 2 of the casing and has the inlet or steam pipe 15 attached to its opposite or upper arm or branch. The other or horizontal branches or arms may be employed for the attachment of a pressure gage and safety valve, respectively, the functions of which will be readily understood without illustration and description. The top 2 of the casing is provided with an opening 16 registering with the coupling 14 so as to permit the steam and water to enter the casing.

Below the head or top 2 of the casing, there is suspended a convened baflle plate 17 the same being of a curvature similar to the top 2 with its periphery terminating short of the sides of the casing. The baffle plate 17 is preferably secured to the top 2 by means of an annular series of draft bolts 18, spacing sleeves or collars 19 being mounted on tue bolts 18 between the baffle plate 17 and the top 2.

In order to limit the upward movement of the float 4, the bafiie plate 17 has been provided with a central depending lug or boss 20, while the upper end or top of the float has bee-11 provided with a complementary lug or boss 21, the lower face or bottom of the lug 20 being concaved and the upper face of the lug 21 being convexed.

The casing 1 may also be provided with a hand-hole normally closed by a door 22, which will permit of access into the casing at any time, and the casing may also be provided with a water gage (not shown).

In use, the inlet or steam pipe 15 is attached to the upper end of the casing, as above indicated, in order to permit the condensation or moisture to gravitate into the casing, the same striking the baflie plate 17 and being directed downwardly along the sides of the casing. Ordinarily, the float 4 will be in lowered position, the valve 12 seating in the valve seat 11, it being noted that the valve and its seat are hemispherical and concaved, respectively, so that the valve will seat eifectively irrespective of the particular angular position of the float. Thus, the float may not only rotate, but may oscillate or vibrate slightly without interfering with the operation of the trap. This is of advantage for the reason that the float stands loosely between the guides in order that it may "eciprocate vertically readily and with the least possible friction. The hoops or bands 9 also reduce the friction and wear, the same engaging solely with the edges of the guides 8. Then, as the water accumulates within the casing 1 and rises to a level approaching or slightly above the float, the buoyancy of the float will cause the same to rise, thereby unseating the valve, and permitting the accumulated water to be discharged through the discharge pipe 13. As soon as the water has been discharged, the pressure of the steam will again lower the float so as to seat the valve 12. It will thus be apparent that the operation of the device is entirely automatic, the same being simple and being devoid of complex or intricate parts which would be liable to impair the operation of the device.

In the variation illustrated in Fig. 2 the upright cylinder 14 has its lower end bolted or otherwise secured to the upper end or head 2 of the casing 1, the top or head 2' being provided with an opening 16 registering with the lower end of the cylinder 14. The cylinder 14' is provided adjoining its lower end with the diametrically opposite pipe-attaching arms 23 and 23 the inlet or steam pipe 15 being connected to the arm 23, while a pressure gage or safety valve, or both, may be attached to the arm 23. 1 piston 24 is movable within the upper end of the cylinder 14 and is connected to the upper end or top of the float 4, by a pitman or link 25. The pitman 25 is provided at its upper and lower ends with the spherical knobs 26 and 26', respectively, which engage in the respective depressions 27 and 27 provided in the bottom or lower end of the piston 24 and top of the float 4. The caps 28 and 28 are bolted or otherwise attached to the bottom of the piston 24 and top of the float 4, respectively, to maintain the knobs 26 and 26 in position. It will be obvious that the pitman 25 is loosely connected at its terminals to the piston and float to rotate and oscillate, and in order to move the piston and float vertically with each other. A cap or head 29 is threaded over the upper end of the cylinder 14 and is provided with an outlet duct or nipple 30, the piston 24 having an upstanding piston rod 31 attached thereto. The piston rod 31 passes slidably through the head or cap 29, the head or cap being provided with a gland 32 and an actuating lever 33 is pivotally connected to the upper end of the piston rod 31, and is fulcrumed to the cap or head 39 by means of a link 34.

The operation of the modified form disclosed in Fig. 2, resembles that of the form disclosed in Fig. 1, the water or condensation being discharged automatically when the float 4 is lifted due to the rise of the water level to a predetermined degree. In this form, however, it will be noted that the steam pressure impinging upon the piston 24, will give a lifting effect or upward tension to the float, so as to assist in lifting the float. In this manner, the float 4 will be more readily raised when the water level reaches a predetermined height, and the operation of the device as a whole, will be rendered more efiicient and reliable, although the improvements may be eliminated, as shown in Fig. l. The nipple 30 permits any steam or condensation to pass off which may leak past the piston 24, and the lever 33 permits the float to be actuated manually whenever it is desired or essential.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new is 1. In a steam trap, an upright casing having inlet and outlet openings at its upper and lower ends, respectively, a float guided vertically within the casing, a valve carried by the lower end of the float and cooperating with the outlet opening, a cylinder attached to the upper end of the casing over the inlet opening, a piston working within the cylinder, a link loosely connected at its ends to the piston and float, the cylinder having an inlet below the piston, and means connected to the piston for actuating it.

2. In a steam trap, an upright casing having inlet and outlet openings at its upper and lower ends, respectively, a float guided vertically within the casing, a valve carried by the lower end of the float and cooperating with the outlet opening, a cylinder attached to the upper end of the casing over the inlet opening, a piston working within the cylinder, a link loosely connected at its ends to the piston and float, the cylinder having an inlet below the piston, an upstanding piston rod carried by the piston and assing through the upper end of the cylind r, and means carried by the cylinder and co6perating with the upper end of the piston rod for actuating the piston.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto aflixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE MOORE LEAR.

Witnesses:

J osii ARREGI-IEA, G. DAVIDS.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0. 

